In this book we are concerned with the public life—the organization and working of the political and economic systems—of our two Commonwealths. What it has to say does not require any reference to its predecessor—Landsmen and Seafarers, by Maurice Lovell. It is complete initself. But the knowledge of the background and resources of the Soviet Union that book provides will be found helpful in surmounting the difficulties we have to face when we try to understand the public life of the Russian people."